work related arthritis

[mogs231]

hi i have recently been diagnosed with arthritis and tendonitis in my wrist/hand and have now been referred to a rheumatologist is this common as it is starting to affect my other hand now, also joints and arms? is this grounds for ill health retirement as i only have 4 years to go?

[helixhelix]

I think before you said you had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis? Perhaps your doctors are now wanting to check whether you have (or don't have) an inflammatory arthritis. Which in some ways is good as there are more treatments for inflammatory arthritis than there are for osteoarthritis.

However, either type isn't by itself a reason for ill health retirement. It depends how it affects you and how you respond to treatment. Some people who get this in their 20's and 30's can carry on working as normal. Others sadly can't. These diseases are hugely variable.

Personally I'd wait to see what the rheumatologist says and how it develops.

[mogs231 in reply to helixhelix]

ok i just thought it may be easier to retire than keep having time off work as im only 4 years away as i have been advised that i cannot lift and work with young children

[helixhelix in reply to mogs231]

You can probably take early retirement now - so you get whatever pension you've earnt to date. But whether or not your employer would be prepared to give you ill health retirement will depend on how flexible they are.

Once you've had your appointment go and talk to your occupational health people at work, or HR.

[margarete-72 in reply to mogs231]

I had to stop work as my knees keep giving way and ankles lower bk and wrists I can't do stairs I cannot walk very far at all I'm in a lot of pain iv been on morphine for a yrs . if you get it bad enough .I broke my knee at work that's how I found out I had it bad my knees are so swollen up and lock all the time I need a total knee replacement but as iv Bern I'll and lost a lot of weight I can't have it done plus I have nerve damage from a ruptured achelli s tendon and planter muscles in my calves ..

[margarete-72]

hi mugs 231 I'm under a neurologist and rheumatologist for my ostio arthritus in my knees ankles mist joints wrists and shoulder x

[LizzieR]

Hi,

I've given up work too- and I'm only 41. I have dreams of returning but it's a bit of a pipe dream. My rheumy laughed when I asked her... Do what's right for you and don't let it get so bad nothing that nothing can be done about it, before you change your life/ rest x